Indexing plants in two-dimensional and three-dimensional space in a controlled growing environment

Abstract

A crop production system (100) for a controlled plant growing environment is provided. A subassembly comprises a guide portion that includes passive guides (104, 504, 904, 1004) radiating outward from a central portion (102, 502, 520, 911). Each passive guide may be separated from two adjacent passive guides by respective angles. Each passive guide has a first end proximal to the central portion and a second end distal to the central portion. Each passive guide is configured to guide plant growth modules (210). The plant growth modules are movable between the first end and the second end of each passive guide. An active guide (406, 907, 1007) causes the plant growth modules to travel in a first direction along the passive guides as the active guide is moved.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A crop production system for a controlled agricultural environment comprising:
 a plurality of passive guides radiating outward from a central portion, wherein
 a. the plurality of passive guides is disposed in a first material having at least a partially conical shape; 
 b. each passive guide of the plurality of passive guides is separated from two adjacent passive guides of the plurality of passive guides by respective angles; 
 c. each passive guide of the plurality of passive guides has a first end proximal to the central portion and a second end distal to the central portion, and 
 d. each passive guide of the plurality of passive guides is configured to guide a respective set of plant growth modules of a plurality of plant growth modules between the first end and the second end of the passive guide. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  further comprising an active guide for causing the plurality of plant growth modules to travel in a first direction along the plurality of passive guides as the active guide is moved, wherein the active guide is disposed in a second material having at least a partially conical shape. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein movement of the active guide comprises rotation of the active guide. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the active guide has a spiral shape. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first direction is a direction away from the central portion. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the active guide is positioned with respect to the plurality of passive guides so that intersections of the active guide with the plurality of passive guides provide respective supports for plant growth modules. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein spacing between the intersections along a passive guide of the plurality of passive guides increases in the first direction. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 2 , wherein spacing between adjacent plant growth modules increases in the first direction along each passive guide. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the active guide comprises a groove, a gutter, or a track, or at least two wires, rails, or bars. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each passive guide of the plurality of passive guides comprises at least two wires, bars, or rails, an opening, or a slot. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of each passive guide resides in a first area subject to first environmental conditions and the second end of each passive guide resides in a second area subject to second environmental conditions different from the first environmental conditions. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of each passive guide is adjacent to a planting zone, and the second end of each passive guide is adjacent to a harvest zone. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , comprising a mechanism for moving the respective set of plant growth modules in a first direction between the first end and the second end of each passive guide. 
     
     
       14. A crop production system for a controlled agricultural environment comprising at least two sub-assemblies, wherein, for each sub-assembly of the at least two sub-assemblies:
 a. the sub-assembly comprises a plurality of passive guides radiating outward from a central portion of the sub-assembly, 
 b. each passive guide is separated from two adjacent passive guides of the same sub-assembly by respective angles; 
 c. the sub-assembly is disposed coaxially with respect to another sub-assembly of the at least two sub-assemblies along an axis that passes through the central portion, and each of the at least two sub-assemblies is disposed at a different respective, non-perpendicular angle with respect to the axis, 
 d. each passive guide has a first end proximal to the central portion of the sub-assembly and a second end distal to the central portion of the sub-assembly, and 
 e. each passive guide is configured to guide a respective set of plant growth modules of a plurality of plant growth modules corresponding to the sub-assembly between the first end and the second end of the passive guide. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein for each sub-assembly of the at least two sub-assemblies, the sub-assembly comprises an active guide for causing the plurality of plant growth modules corresponding to the sub-assembly to travel in a first direction along the plurality of passive guides of the sub-assembly as the active guide of the sub-assembly is moved. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein movement of the active guide comprises rotation of the active guide. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the active guide of the sub-assembly has a spiral shape. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first direction is a direction away from the central portion. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two sub-assemblies are disposed vertically with respect to each other. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , wherein, for each sub-assembly, the active guide is positioned with respect to the plurality of passive guides so that intersections of the active guide with the plurality of passive guides provide respective supports for plant growth modules. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , wherein spacing between the intersections along a passive guide of the plurality of passive guides increases in the first direction. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 15 , wherein, for each sub-assembly, spacing increases in the first direction between adjacent plant growth modules along each passive guide. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the sub-assemblies has the shape of at least a portion of a cone. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 14 , wherein, for each sub-assembly, each passive guide of the plurality of passive guides comprises at least two wires, bars, or rails, an opening, or a slot. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 14 , wherein, for each sub-assembly, the active guide comprises a groove, a gutter, or a track, or at least two wires, rails, or bars.